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Our View: Thumbs down to scam artists

By KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE EDITORIAL BOARD

May 30, 2014

Thumbs down to scam artists seeking to cheat their way to financial gain.

The St. Charles Police Department warned last week of a utility scam targeting two establishments in which someone pretending to be with the city’s electrical utility attempted to convince the owner his bill was overdue by $800 and requested credit card payment.

While telephone scams attempting to bilk members of the public are nothing new, improving technology gives thieves more options as they attempt to make their schemes appear plausible. Some of the better executed scams can be difficult to dismiss.

More than ever, we need to pick up the phone with a dose of skepticism when we do not recognize who is calling.

If someone is requesting money or financial information, hang up and consider calling your bank or the police to share your experience.

It also is worthwhile to discuss the dangers of telephone and email scams with family and friends, particularly those who might have a trusting streak that could be exploited.

Most of the time, these scams don’t work. But those who perpetrate them would not go through the effort if they did not believe a percentage of the public could be swindled.